Massage apparatus



Aug- 1.1, 1931- J. G. DE REMER y1,818,465

MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed sept. 14,. 1927 2 sheetssneet 1 A TTORNE V8 J. G. DE REMER 1,818,465

MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14. 1927 Aug. l1, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOHNE YS Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATE NT v`ol-Ficlez- JAY GRANT DE REMER., or GREENWTCH, ooNNnoTIcUTgvAssiGNon, BYAMESNE ASSIGN- n CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY MENTS, TO J'. G. DEREMER RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF JERSEY, CITY, NEW JERSEY, El

MASSAGE r.aTfrAitA'rus Application filed September 14, 1927. Serial No. 219,387.

This invention relates to improvements in self-massage apparatus of the belt type, that is in which a rapidly reciprocating belt embraces the body of the user who leans or pulls against it.

. Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section to illustrate the construction of the crank and related parts of a preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l with parts broken away for purposesrof clarity; Fig. 3 is a plan view with the upper portions of the housings in section and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the entire apparatus.

In the drawings M designates an electric motor which constitutes a prime mover for giving consta-nt motion to the massaging apparatus. YThis motor is secured bymeans of a plurality of bolts B to a base plate l? made of metal. in order to form a weighty base for vthe device and to give stability thereto. Underneath the base plate a cushion C of felt, rubber or like frictional material may be secured to dampen movement of the machine aswell as tol prevent injury to the supporting surface upon which the device may be placed during operation and reduce noise. It is not necessary to utilize the cushion C but in place thereof thev base plate may rest directly upon a bath towel T or other absorbing surface which is equally as eilicient as the cushion C.

The electric motor has shaft extensions S projecting at each end thereof and upon each of which shaft ends'is mounted a disk crankand arm 1 with which a counterweight 2 is integrally cast. Each counterweight 2 is positioned opposite its companion crank and the crank arms are arranged 180 apart. The crank arms and counterweights are `secured to the shafts S by the set screws 20. The crank arms 1 are .operatively connected by the connecting rods 3 to actuate plungers 4 by means of the wrist pins 6 and crank pins 6. The plungers 4 are made of thin wall steel tubing within which is forced an aluminum block 4 to afford support for the wrist pins 6. The plungers 4 slide in and out of the housings H, which housings are preferably made of cast iron and mounted on the base plate P by means of Aal plurality ofbolts 7. The portions 5 of the housings Hare suitably shaped to constitute bearings to support the plungers 4 and the parts which the housing enclose constitute the transmission mechanism by means of which the motor reciprocates the massage belt, such mechanism being thus disposed onv opposite sides of the motor and in horizontally adjacent positions with relation thereto.

The cast iron housings H are also designed with oil sumps 8 of lsuch a size as to contain a suliicient amount of oil to lubricate all of themoving parts for a long period of time. The oil scoops 18 carried by the armsB dip into the oil contained in the sumps and splash oill to all of the parts requiring lubrication. Oil may b e introduced into the sumps through the oil fillers O.

Y The ends'13 of the plungers 4 are provided with suitable clamps 14 for attaching the ends 15 of a massaging'device or applicator belt 16 thereto. In order to prevent oil. from spattering or leaking from the housing, felt washers are provided around the shafts S and next to the ends of the motor. Surplus oil, carried by the scoop 18 to the surfaces of the plungers 4, is wiped therefrom by the bearing surface 5. Such surplus oil drains 4back into the oil sump 8 through channels lland ducts 11a which are preferably cast directly in the housing.

With vthe aforesaid constructiomthe apparatus can be made to operate practically in complete mechanical balance by suitably proportioning the weight of the plungers and the counterweight on the crank arms.'

When the machine is balanced against horizontal forces set lup `by' the reciprocating I.

plungers, it willnot ordinarily be in equally good balancel in a vertical direct-ion. I overcome this slightly unbalanced condition toany desired extent, however, by extending the connecting rod beyond the crankpin 6 and adding suicient weight' thereto, i. efby providing a weighted` extension, as one skilled in the art will readily understand. Thus any `mass applied to the end of an extension 17 to the lconnecting rod will exert a force verticallyon the crank pin greater than that due to the mass alone by an amount which depends upon the ratio of the extension to the normal connecting rod length. The extension 17, as may be seen in Fig. 3, brings the center of mass of the rod nearer to the crank pin so that its force will be available to oppose the counterweight 2 of the crank arm in a vertical position. It is possible to add suflicient `weight to the extension so that the center of mass of the connecting rod practically coincides with the center of the crank pin.

In operating my improved massaging apparatus the plungers reciprocating back and forth operate like compressor pistons, and, thus, each housing acts like an air compressor. By joining the air space in the top of each housing with a tube or pipe 19 I neutralize the pressure iuctuations in the two housings so as to reduce the tendency for the oil to escape past the washers. This pipe also serves as a very convenient handle for carrying the device or for putting it away when not in use. With my improved construction no moving parts are open or are visible except the ends of the plungers to which the belt ends are att-ached, as noted hereinabove. This feature is of great importance because the device is absolutely safe and fool proof.

When my apparatus is used, the user applies the applicator belt around the part of the body to be massaged and then switches on the electric current to actuate the motor. The requisite tension may be put on the applicator belt by merely placing one or both hands against the motor and pushing it away, while simultaneously pulling the body against the belt. By using about a one sixth horse power motor operating at about 114() revolutions per minute, an effective massaging action is produced by the applicator belt on the user. In case it is desired to massage ones back or ones lower limb or ankle, a hold-back strap 21 or equivalent device may be fastened to my apparatus and then secured to any convenient fixture in a room, such as a radiator, door knob, or a hook fastened in the wall or floor as shown in Figures land 4. Y

The advantage of portability is obtained, according to this invention, by the general mode of organization of the parts and inY particular by the relation existing between weight and operating speed. I have found that a weight as low as fifty pounds, or even less, provides, at speeds of reciprocation which are well suited for massage, a sufficient degree of inertia to neutralize the' greater part of thetendency which the machine has to vibrate or move itself instead ofthe massage belt. When this degree of inertia is aided by the frictional restraint of thebase on its support, and by the restraint which, in some forms, may be exercised by the hold-back device, a machine having a proper relation of speed and weight can be used on a table top or desk, unattached thereto, with quite the same massaging eiciency as the larger fixed base machines which require to be made stable by attachment to the floor or otherwise, and even without the aid of these adjuncts, under some conditions a proper co-ordination of weight and speed provides a machine which is practically stable and also Yeasily portable. The tendency for the machine to move itself rather than the belt is variable, being greater according as the degree of resistance imposed by the user is increased. The adjunctive restraints are not made to'prevent such movement, but merely to dampen it, for it is important to this invention that the machine shall have freedom to move to some extent under the effect of its own reaction forces. `Accordingly the hold-back device is a non-rigid form of connection designed to permit such movement while at the same time sustaining the users pull on the machine so that he may not displace it from its working position or pull it off the table. In addition to this primary function, the hold-back may also serve to dampen or limit the reaction movement under heavier loads as later described. In brief, I have found that eiiicient and wholly practical results can be obtained in machines small enough to be portable by permitting some reaction movement to take place and preferably dampening it, while at the same time holding the machine against displacement from its working position. Within this principle the machine of this invention may be variously designed.

In the preferred embodiment of the principle illustrated i'n the drawings, ythe reaction movement or tendency of the machine to vmove on its support, by the effect-of its own action, is a tendency to oscillate about its center of mass, which is substantially its geometric center and, in thisV preferred form, the organization of the machine with considerable and preferably equal portions of its mass on opposite sides of the median plane between the belt connectors and at substantially equal distances therefrom, constitutes the most effective wayof `utilizing its. inertia and suiices to keep the machine nearly stationary under ordinary user load, while imparting the least vibration to the part ofthe building to which the hold-back means has been fixed, which is to say that the least duty is thus imposed on the holdback means so far as absorbing the reaction is concerned. The crank housings at the opposite ends of the base together with the end portions of the latter constitute adequate masses for this purpose. For example, I have calculated that with 100 pounds pull on the belt of this machine and center of the machine and its midportionv arranged to slip and rub in the device on the wall to which it is hooked. If the ends of the strap were brought closer together, or if it were connected so that its line of pull passed through the point about which the oscillation tends to occur, it would then serve merely to sustain the users pull, exerting no appreciable restraint on the oscillation; preferably however the hold-back device is utilized for such restraint as it may give without imparting objectionable vibration to the building.

Furthermore, my invention contemplates providing a massage apparatus of thereducer or exerciser type which is completely enclosed to form a unitary, simple, and compact device, which has all of the moving parts thereof and the lubricantcontained in a housing, which requires no special room or place but may be placed on an ordinary table or bed in a bed-room, library, or dining room, etc. or may be suspended from a hook in a ceiling, which needs no oiling or other attention for a long period of time; which Weighs only about one third or one fourth of the weight of machines now on the market and costs much less than known machines; and which is absolutely safe for the lay users.

I claim:

l. In massage apparatus of the reciprocating-belt type, a machine comprising a base, an electric motor and belt connector means driven thereby to reciprocate the belt, the total weicht of said machine being correlated to the reciprocating speed to produce an inertia effect so proportioned to the massage resistance that the belt reciprocates and the machine bodily vibrates through an appreciable amplitude when at work, supporting means for said machine permitting such movement, a hold-back device to sustain the users pull also permitting such movement, and a massage belt connected by its ends to said belt-reciprocating means.

2. In portable massage apparatus of the reciprocating-belt type, a free-moving machine comprising an electric motor, belt connector means driven thereby to reciprocate the belt, a base structure suited for supporting the machine on a table top, desk or like surface with freedom for horizontal vibratory movement thereon and relatively there- .to, a massage belt connected to and reciprocated by said means, and hold-back means permitting such vibratory movement while ustaining the users pull on the massage elt.

3. A portable massage machine comprising a massage belt, a base, an electric motor thereon, belt connectors driven thereby. for alternately reciprocating the ends of said belt, said connectors occupying approximately the same horizontal level as the shaft of said motor and said base being adapted for horizontal vibratory movement on and relatively to a table top or other piece of furniture used to support it, and flexible hold-back-means connected therewith, the total weight of said base and parts thereon adapting it for manual portability and the speed of reciprocation being correlated to that weight to produce an inertia effect suiiicient for massage purposes.

4f. A massage machine comprising an electric motor having belt connector means for connection to the ends of a massage belt tov reciprocate the same, the weight and speed of reciprocation of such machine being mutually correlated to cause the belt to reciprocate and the machine to vibrate bodily through an appreciable but not excessive amplitude when at work, means for supporting the machine so as to permit such vibration, a hold-back device for said machine also permitting such vibration, and friction means for damping such vibration.

5. A massage machine having means for supporting the same to permit oscillation of the machine when at work and comprising a base, a massage belt, an electric motor on the base in the vertical median plane of the stretches of said belt and belt-connector means driven by the-motor shaft for reciprocating both ends of said belt, the total weight cf such machine being within the limit of manual portability and being correlated with the belt-reciprocating speedthereof to produce a moment of inertia so related to the massage resistance that the belt reciprocates and the machine oscillates through an appreciable angle when at work.

6. A belt reciprocating massage machine, having freedom for horizontal vibratory movement and comprising a base, a massage belt, an electric motor centrally located on said base in the vertical median plane of the stretches of said belt, belt connectors in approximately the same horizontal plane as the shaft of said motor and driven thereby for reciprocating said belt, the total weight of said machine being within the limit of manual portability and divided in substantially equal portions on opposite sides of said vertical plane and a non-rigid holdback device connected to vsaid machine at laterally separated points thereon respectivelyon opposite sides of said plane, and

Vadapted for connection to a fixed support, to sustain the users pull.

7. A belt reciprocating massage machine comprising a base of less dimension in the direction of reciprocation and greater' dimension laterally thereto, and adapted for horizontal oscillation bodily, a massage belt, an electric motor centrally located on said base and in the vertical median plane of the stretches of said belt, belt connectors in approximately the same horizontal plane as the shaft of said motor and driven thereby for reciprocating said belt, the total Weight of said machine being Within the limit of manual portability and having its mass divided in substantially equal portions on opposite sides of said median plane of the belt and being also correlated With the speed thereof to produce a moment of inertia so related to the massage resistance that the belt reciprocates and the machine oscillates about a central point and through an appreciable angle When at Work, and means for sustaining the machine against the users pull adapted to permitsuch oscillation.

8. A belt reciprocating massage machine having means for supporting the same with freedom for horizontal vibratory movement and con'iprising a base of less dimension in the direction of reciprocation and greater din'iension laterally thereto, a massage belt, an electric motor centrally located on said base and in the median plane of the stretches of said belt, belt connectors in approxilately the saine horizontal plane as the shaft of said motor and driven thereby for actuating said belt, the total Weight of said machine being within the limit of manual portability and being also correlated With the speed thereof to produce a moment of inertia so related to the massage resistance that the vbelt reciprocates and the machine oscillates through an appreciable angle When at Work, and means adapted to permit such oscillation for sustaining the machine against the users pull.

9. ln massage apparatus of the reciprocating-belt type, machine comprising a base, an electric motor having belt connectors operated thereby to reciprocate the belt, the total Weight of said base and parts thereon being correlated to the belt-reciprocating speed to produce an inertia` effect so proportioned to the massage resistance of the belt on the body of the user that the belt reciprocates and the machine bodily vibrates through an appreciable amplitude when at Work, means for supporting and sustainino' said machine againstthe users pull adapted to permit its said movement, and a massage bell-,connected to and reciprocated by said belt connectors.

l0. A massage machine of the reciprocating-belt type adapted to be supported for oscillation, bodily, and comprising an electric motor, belt-connector means respectively located at and driven from each end of the armature shaft thereof,'a massage belt connected by its ends respectively to said connector means and non-rigid hold-back means for sustaining the users pull on said connector means adapted to permit said machine to oscillate about an axis located between said connector means.

ll. A portable massage machine of the Ythe user is sustained by said fixed object While permitting vsaid bodilyv vibration .of the motor.

l2. A 'massage Amachine of the reciprocating belt type adapted to'be supported for oscillation, bodily and to sustain the Weight of the user leaning against the belt, and comprising an electric motor, the latter comprising a motorV casing and an armature shaftjor'irnalled in bearings `therein at the oppositeV ends of the casing and projecting beyond the same at both ends of the casing, belt-connector means respectively located at and driven from each end of the armature shaft thereof, a massage belt connected by its ends respectively to said connector means and imparting the users pull through said means directly to both said bearings, and non-rigid hold-back means for sustaining the users pull on said connector means adapted to permit said machine to oscillate about an axis located between said connector means. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAY GRANT DE REMER. 

